J. Appl. Hort.

,5(2):100-101, July-December, 2003

Evaluation of bold aonla genotypes in Konkan with unique

two harvests in a year

P.J. Kshirsagar, M.S. Gavankar, V.G. Chavan, K.H. Pujari, S.B. Deshpande,
B.V. Shingre and B.P. Patil
Regional Fruit Research Station, Vengurle, Dist. Sindhudurg, 416 516 (M.S.), India

Abstract
The present investigation was conducted to evaluate performance of bold aonla types under Konkan agro-climatic conditions,
where fruiting is obtained twice in a year as a unique feature of these bold genotypes. Based on the three years yield observations
at two different locations in Konkan, it could be concluded that Kanchan variety of aonla may be preferred for cultivation in Konkan
region. However, for effective cross pollination and higher yield, mixed planting of Kanchan with Krishna and NA-7 could be the best
strategy for aonla cultivation in the region. Monsoon season harvest proved to be superior under Konkan conditions.

Key word: Aonla, Emblica officinalis Gaertn., Konkan, yield, fruiting, variety

obtained for three years (2000 onwards) at two different locations

Introduction were analysed statistically by the method described by Panse
Aonla (Emblica officinalis Gaertn.) is a native of eastern Asia, and Sukhatme (1985) and Gomez and Gomez (1984). The data
particularly Central and Southern India. It is a medium size tree were pooled over the years and locations to draw conclusion.
occupying a height of 10-15 m and evergreen in tropical region,
whereas it behaves as deciduous tree in north India due to Results and discussion
complete drop of determinate shoots and initiates to grow new
The pooled results obtained for 2000 to 2002 (Table 1) at Regional
shoots during February-March. Aonla is cross pollinated by wind,
Fruit Research Station, Vengurle revealed that the variety Kanchan
honey bee, wasp and gravity (Reddi and Janki Bai, 1979). Dried
(40.82 kg/tree) was significantly superior to all the other varieties
aonla fruits have been used since ancient times, being rich vitamin
under testing followed by Krishna (29.62 kg/tree) and NA-7 (26.55
C. Anola processed products viz., aonla supari, aonla mawa, aonla
kg/tree). Variety Chakaiya gave the lowest yield (11.26 kg/tree).
syrup etc. are digestive health restoring items liked by all. Honey
bees commonly visit in late evening and morning. Since there is The same set of varieties was studied at Agricultural Research
no self-incompatibility in aonla, the cause of poor fruit set seems Station, Mulde (Table 2). The three years pooled result indicated
to be the high percentage of staminate flowers.
Table 1. Yield of different aonla cultivars (kg/ha) at Regional Fruit
Improved aonla cultivars viz., Banarasi, Francics, Chakaiya, Research Station, Vengurle
Narendra Aonla-4 (NA-4), NA-5, NA-6, NA-7, NA-9, Krishna, Cultivars Yield (kg/tree) Pooled
Kanchan are grown in India. These promising types were 2000 2001 2002 (kg/tree)
identified in Pratapgarh, Agra and Varanasi district of Uttar NA-7 17.00 41.35 21.70 26.95
Pradesh and released for cultivation. The aonla types in western Krishna 11.85 37.40 39.60 29.62
Ghats and Konkan have small sized fruits and are poor yielding. Chakaiya 11.38 11.10 11.30 11.26
Hence, the present investigation was conducted to evaluate Kanchan 17.20 65.05 40.20 40.82
performance of bold aonla types selected in northern plains and Mean 14.56 38.73 28.20 27.16
introduced under Konkan Agro-climatic conditions. S.E. ± 1.36 3.87 3.18 4.37
C.D. (p=0.05) N.S. 8.05 6.61 9.08
Materials and methods Table 2. Yield of different aonla cultivars (kg/ha) at Agricultural
Field experiments were conducted from 2000 to 2002 at two different Research Station, Mulde
locations viz., Regional Fruit Research Station, Vengurle and Cultivars Yield (kg/tree) Pooled
Agricultural Research Station, Mulde with four different aonla 2000 2001 2002 (kg/tree)
varieties viz., NA-7, Krishna, Chakaiya and Kanchan. The NA-7 11.44 7.44 13.79 10.89
experiment was conducted in a randomised block design replicated Krishna 7.00 3.75 21.07 10.61
five times. Planting of aonla grafts of the test varieties was done Chakaiya 3.03 4.15 30.36 9.18
at 6 x 6 m in the year 1994. The yield data were collected from 2000 Kanchan 4.84 8.47 25.00 12.77
onwards. Annual fertilizer application @ 250 g N, 500 g P and 250 Mean 6.58 5.95 20.06 10.86
g K per tree was done by ring method along with 10 kg F.Y.M. S.E. ± 0.92 0.86 1.92 1.87
Need based pest control measures were undertaken. The yield C.D. (p=0.05) 1.92 N.S. N.S. N.S.
 Evaluation of bold aonla genotypes in Konkan with unique two harvests in a year 101

Table 3. Three year pooled data of aonla for two different location Research Station Mulde presented in Table 3, indicated that the
(Regional Fruit Research Station, Vengurle and Agricultural mean yield of aonla fruits per tree was 19.01 kg. The data from
Research Station, Mulde) two location combined together revealed that the variety, Kanchan
Cultivars Vengurle Mulde Average gave significantly higher fruit yield (26.79 kg/tree) over NA-7
and Chakaiya whereas, it was on par with Krishna (20.11 kg/tree).
NA-7 26.95 10.89 18.92
Krishna 29.62 10.61 20.11 From the three years yield observations at two different locations
Chakaiya 11.26 9.18 10.22 in Konkan it could be concluded that Kanchan variety of aonla
Kanchan 40.82 12.77 26.79 be preferred for cultivation in Konkan region. However, for
Mean 27.16 10.86 19.01 effective cross pollination and higher yield, mixed planting of
SE± CD(p=0.05) Kanchan with Krishna and NA-7 could be the best strategy for
Location 5.31 11.05 aonla cultivation in the Konkan region. Fruiting twice in a year
Variety 3.76 7.81 was the unique feature of these bold genotypes tested in Konkan
even though monsoon season harvest proved superior.
that the performance trend of all the varieties tested was identical
to that at Vengurle. The variety Kanchan produced significantly References
more yield (12.77 kg/tree) followed by NA-7 (10.89 kg/tree) and
Krishna (10.61 kg/tree). The mean yield of aonla fruits per tree Reddi, C.S. and Janki Bai, 1979. A study on the pollination in Emblica
over different varieties was less than half at Mulde as compared officinalis Gaertn. New Bot., 4: 155-160.
to Vengurle. This could be attributed to the relatively less fertile Panse, V.G. and P.V. Sukhatme, 1985. Statistical methods for Agricultural
workers. Published by ICAR, New Delhi.
sloppy soil at Mulde where the experiment was planted.
Gomez, K.A. and A.A. Gomez, 1984. Statistical procedures for
The three years pooled data combined for two location i.e. Agricultural Research. 2 nd edition published by An International
Regional Fruit Research Station, Vengurle and Agricultural Rice Research Institute Book.